The Battle of Britain

The battle begins, summer 1940
The battle begins, summer 1940

After defeating France in June 1940, Hitler assumed Britain would sue for peace but ordered his armed forces to prepare for invasion. Hermann Goering assured him that a sustained air assault would destroy the RAF, winning the air superiority needed.
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940

July 1940 saw German planes target shipping in the Channel, drawing the RAF into combat, before radar stations, communications centres and airfields faced round-the-clock bombing in August. The battle reached a climax with attacks on London in September.
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)

Joan 'Elizabeth' Mortimer, Elspeth Henderson and Helen Turner of the WAAF. All three received the Military Medal for courageous conduct during attacks on Biggin Hill airfield. Biggin Hill suffered a total of ten major attacks between 30 Aug and 5 Sept.
Non-British personnel in the RAF
Non-British personnel in the RAF

A group of pilots of No. 303 (Polish) Squadron RAF return from a sortie. The first Polish squadrons were formed in the summer of 1940. Pilots came from several other countries, including Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, New Zealand and the USA.
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford

RAF Duxford was a Sector Station in 12 Group, responsible for defending the Midlands and East Anglia. As the fighting intensified, Duxford's squadrons were called on to support 11 Group's defence of London and the south-east.
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF

Despite incessant attacks, the RAF's defences held. The Luftwaffe could not continue, and in the autumn switched to 'nuisance' raids and night operations. The failure to defeat the RAF convinced Hitler to postpone his invasion plans indefinitely.

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Italian M1891/38 short rifle
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Reale Fabbrica d'Armi, Terni, Italy 1940
This rifle was a modification of the standard Italian Model 1891 infantry rifle (see FIR 7232). It owes its existence to the difficult situation in which the Italian Army found itself upon entering the Second World War. It had been intended to change the...
Italian shortened M1870 bayonet & scabbard
(weapons and ammunition)
This shortened version of the Italian Model 1870 bayonet was issued during the First World War for use with the Model 1870/87/15 rifle (see FIR 8150). The bayonet was a simple conversion of the Model 1870 bayonet (see WEA 67), with the blade shortened...
45/5 Modello 35 Brixia
(weapons and ammunition)
The Italian Army's Brixia was regarded as one of the most needlessly complicated mortar designs used by any of the Second World War combatants. It embodied a number of novel features including a magazine holding ten propelling cartridges and a gas port...
Fucile di Fanteria M1870/87 & Vetterli-Vitali M70/87
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Fabbrica d'Armi di Terni, Terni, Italy 1889
The Italian 10.35mm Model 1870/87 infantry rifle employed a bolt action mechanism developed by Friedrich Vetterli, whose design was adopted by the Swiss Army in 1869. Initially the Italian rifle was issued as a single-loader but, from 1887, was adapted...
Glisenti M1910
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Metallurgica Bresciana gia Tempini, Brescia, Italy
The Glisenti pistol was promoted as a possible service pistol for the Italian Army early in the 20th Century. The origins of the design are obscure, but the locking mechanism is probably based on a Swiss-patented system of 1903. The Glisenti was...
Beretta M1934
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Pietro Beretta SpA, Gardone Valtrompia, Italy 1937
The Beretta M1934 was the most successful of a series of pistols produced by Beretta for the Italian Army. It was designed by Beretta's chief designer, Tullio Marengoni, in response to a military decision to replace all existing service pistols with a...
Beretta M1934
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Pietro Beretta SpA, Gardone Valtrompia, Italy 1940
The Beretta M1934 was the most successful of a series of pistol produced by Beretta for the Italian Army. It was designed by Beretta's chief designer, Tullio Marengoni, in response to a military decision to replace all existing service pistols with a...
Fucile di Fanteria M1870/87/15 & Vetterli-Vitali M70/87/15
(weapons and ammunition)
The Italian Model 1870/87/15 rifle was an emergency weapon, adopted to meet a shortage of rifles, following Italy's entry into the First World War. It was an adaptation of the obsolete 1870/87 rifle (see FIR 8152) to the standard 6.5mm cartridge. The...
Italian M1891 bayonet, with scabbard
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Rocca 1942
The Italian Model 1891 bayonet was issued in conjunction with the M1891 Infantry Rifle (see FIR 7232), versions of which were used in both World Wars by the Italian armed forces. This example was manufactured in 1942.
Italian M1870 bayonet for Vetterli-Vitali rifle
(weapons and ammunition)
The Italian Model 1870 bayonet was adopted for use with infantry rifle of the same designation (see FIR 8152).